Chudy’s two-hit shutout puts Blue Streaks in semifinal
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> With the game on the line, whether it’s basketball and the game is tied and no time on the clock you want your best free throw shooter on the line or it’s a must-win Class AA baseball sectional game you want your best on the mound.
Whether it’s on the bump or at the line – Saratoga Springs senior Nate Chudy is your best bet.
Chudy got the start Saturday afternoon and the Holy Cross-bound right-hander delivered a two-hit complete game gem to put the Blue Steaks in the Section II semifinal Thursday against rival Shenendehowa at Joe Bruno Stadium.
“The past two games that I threw I threw pretty good, I think I threw a complete game in one of them and six innings in the other, that
helped,” Nate Chudy said. “Also (Coach Andy Cuthbertson) knew this game was going to be at this time so he wanted to get me and Alex (Henderson) ready because he knew we were going to be doing a majority of the pitching.
“Alex already pitched against CBA early in the season so we threw something at them that they didn’t see before and it worked out.”
The 6-foot 8-inch hurler stood and delivered a twohit, nine-strike out performance for Saratoga Springs and also went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI in the Blue Streaks 9-0 win over Christian Brothers Academy Saturday afternoon at East Side Rec.
“It was a big help that I knew my field behind me was solid, so I was thinking ‘Try to get ahead, maybe a couple sliders a couple change-ups and then work it lower so they might ground out or fly out or just hit it into my team,” Chudy said. “Strikeouts were not a big thing in my mind heading into this game.”
They were just the end results as only Drew Signor and Sonny D’Antonio managed to get a hit off of Chudy, solidifying Cuthbertson’s decision.
“It’s pretty relaxing to have a guy like (Nate) Chudy and Alex (Henderson) and then we’ve had numerous guys who have thrown in the bullpen, Joey Laurer and Bryce Emery,” Cuthbertson said. “It was comforting knowing that today is a must-win, but when you win you don’t play again until Thursday so anybody who started is basically on regular rest to go again on Thursday.
“That made the decision a little bit easier. We’ll see how he bounces back and we have to make a decision whether it’s Chudy or Henderson against Shenendehowa.” The Blue Streak’s rivals survived a late rally by LaSalle to advance to the Class AA semifinal, 5-4, Saturday afternoon.
When it came time to decide whether to extend Chudy the distance or save him for Thursday, his starter made his intentions known.
“He and I were having conversations as the game progressed and I was keeping an eye on his pitch count,” Cuthbertson said. “As our lead grew I was thinking about ‘Should I get other guys in the game?’ but knowing that we don’t play again until next Thursday he said ‘I want the ball.’
“When a guy like Chudy says ‘I want the ball,’ and he’s a senior and he’s feeling good I think he did a great job.”
Saratoga scratched out a run in the bottom of the second inning. Fittingly the game-winner was scored by Chudy who led off with a single to center, moving to second on Jack Trimmings’ own single and the runners advanced when Greydon Parker’s bunt was mishandled to load the bases. Chudy scored on Sam Cirenza’s grounder to second for the early lead.
In the next inning the trio struck again as Luca Bonacio reached on a oneout single and John Irons singled to center advancing Bonacio to third. Irons stole second as Bonacio moved down the base path, the throw to third was close, diving back but sliding underneath the tag.
Trimmings again delivered, this time a two-out single to right to drive in the base runners for the 3-0 lead.
“I was just trying to get a good piece of it, I knew if I could get on the rest of my line-up could do the job, pick me up as long as I did my job,” Jack Trimmings said. “It’s easy when you have everyone in the lineup that can really do damage no matter what the situation is.”